May 20, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) passes during the third period against the Colorado Avalanche in game one of the Western Conference Final of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images Outgoing general manager Steve Yzerman is leaving Detroit Red Wings fans with a lovely parting gift beyond Moritz Seider, Lucas Raymond, Simon Edvinsson and Alex DeBrincat.
On paper at least, Yzerman has tried to leave Detroit fans with the physical team they have been craving. Yzerman’s acquisition of fiery forward Keegan Kolesar from the Vegas Golden Knights adds a layer of toughness that allows the Red Wings to handle themselves physically against physical opponents. Kolesar is not an in-and-out-of-the-lineup player.
He played 74 or more games for five consecutive seasons for Vegas Golden Knights. He has played both third- and fourth-line minutes. Over the past three seasons, he has missed only three games.
The 6-foot-2, 217-pound bruising forward has registered 237 or more hits for each of the past five seasons. At Yzerman’s state-of-the-team media conference after the season, he said one of his objectives was to make the team difficult to play against immediately. “Just talking to guys now, they felt that there was a missing piece, maybe an identity of just having that — not the fighting aspect, but more of the toughness and being hard to play against,” Kolesar said about coming to Detroit.
“Being a veteran presence on the front end, bringing guys into the fight. I think that’s something I can provide.” The Kolesar addition was big because Yzerman understood what he had coming this season. Last year, Marco Kasper (186) and Ben Chiarot (171) were the only two Red Wings with 150 more hits.
With Kolesar’s arrival and the anticipated increase in Emmitt Finnie’s 131 hits, plus the possibility that Carter Mazur and Michael Brandsegg-Nygard will play regularly, the Red Wings could have six players with 150 or more hits. MBN and Mazur have both shown in the AHL they like to hit. It could easily be seven if Moritz Seiderchooses to dial up his physical play it could easily be seven players with 150 more hits.
He had 121 hits last season as he concentrated on being a more complete defender. The Red Wings may not be done adding hitters. Reportedly, the Red Wings are still interested in unrestricted free agent Eeli Tolvanen who has averaged 200 or more hits for Seattle over the past If the Red Wings decide to embrace a physical theme, we all know Seider will be one of the leaders.
How much could all of this help the Red Wings who finished 29th in the NHL with 17.83 hits per 60 minutes last season? The New York Rangers (25.47 hits per game), Florida Panthers (24.42), Ottawa Senators (23.59) and Philadelphia Flyers (22.46) were the NHL’s most frequent hitting teams last season. In that group, only the Ottawa Senators had as many as four players with 150 hits.
And one of those players was Brady Tkachuk who is now with the Florida Panthers. If the Red Wings can live up to their new hitting potential, they could end up as one of the NHL’s more annoying teams.